Read Women discussion

This is our nonfiction read for January. You can also use it for the quarterly science challenge.

The author Sy Montgomery was born in Frankfurt in Germany, as her father was stationed there as a US soldier, and she is living in New Hampshire now. She has always been interested in animals and studied various kinds in their habitat.

She has a great website here: https://symontgomery.com/

Pity most of the media links there concerning the octopus don´t work anymore, but here is a YT interview with the author about her interest for this animal, answering several questions by members of an octopus FB group:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-yDr...

Looking ahead to this read and all your thoughts!

My apologies, Michaela — my generally tenuous relationship with time has declined to ephemeral at best the last couple of days.

There’s so much love for this book in the world, I’m anticipating a great discussion.

Thank you to the people who recommended and chose this. I'm really enjoying it, lots of fascinating information.

Carol wrote: "My apologies, Michaela — my generally tenuous relationship with time has declined to ephemeral at best the last couple of days.

There’s so much love for this book in the world, I’m anticipating a..."

No worries, Carol. I wasn´t sure whether I should/was allowed to post a thread for this book. And I understand about time between several holidays. ;)

Michaela wrote: "Carol wrote: "My apologies, Michaela — my generally tenuous relationship with time has declined to ephemeral at best the last couple of days.

There’s so much love for this book in the world, I’m ..."

Thanks. Shame lurks round every bend this week. Any time you’re leading, feel free to set up your thread whenever it suits. Anita and I are the backup plan, especially to take the pressure of mods, if it feels like that to whomever.

I'll be joining a bit later in the month.

I’ve read the first three chapters now and am enjoying learning about octopuses as well as getting to know the three octopuses introduced so far. I love how they can use their funnel to play or show displeasure by squirting water. I was also very interested to learn about their mating habits and how that relates to their own mortality. And how they use their suckers to taste the humans they interact with.

I’m also enjoying the author’s voice and her enthusiasm for her subject. I’ve already looked at the list of her other books to see what else might interest me.

I also read the first three chapters, as one chapter per day is enough for me atm. I found it interesting (and could relate too) that octopodes were considered unpleasant and dangerous. The last point is sometimes true, and you have to know how to deal with them. It´s also a common view that animals underneath mammals are less liked than amphibians or fish.

I´m also glad I´m reading it in my native German, as some scientific terms may be better understandable - though not always. ;)

I am looking forward to reading this one, just waiting for my library to kick it over to me.

Started last night. Just reading about eels dreaming!

Susan wrote: "I’ve read the first three chapters now and am enjoying learning about octopuses as well as getting to know the three octopuses introduced so far. I love how they can use their funnel to play or sho..."

Shooting water and tasting humans with tentacles are definitely my big takeaways so far as well! I think it’s pretty funny and she’s giving the animals so much character in her writing. I think it really shows her attention and love for them.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that in Chapter 2 I was kind of hoping that Octavia (view spoiler)[ was just missing the author and not rapidly declining. I had not idea that their lifespan was so short. (hide spoiler)]

Now into ch.7, and finding it a bit repetitive. The information about octopodes is rare among all the encounters she describes as well as her (view spoiler)[diving adventures (hide spoiler)] from ch.5 on. I was fascinated by the egg laying though. And yes, I wouldn´t like to be attacked by water either. ;)

I'm listening to the audiobook (mid-Chapter 2) and mostly enjoying it so far. Something about the way she narrates makes me think of Robin Wall Kimmerer.

I finished the book, and was a bit disappointed. It´s less about science as about her years when meeting octopodes, people at the aquarium and learning new things. There were interesting points, but (view spoiler)[the author had to admit in the end that she didn´t know much about these animals, especially their feelings and thoughts (hide spoiler)]. I liked her enthusiasm though, so 3 stars from me.

The book is less scientific than I thought it might be, but enjoying it. I was excited to read she was pursuing scuba diving to be able to meet octopuses in the wild, and appreciate her sharing how hard it was for her. I was surprised and unhappy (view spoiler)[ with Kali’s sudden death, and the quickness with which we moved on. Although I don’t know why I’d expect her to mourn across pages or chapters (hide spoiler)]. I would also have liked a little more info sprinkled throughout, but still have a couple chapters left so hopefully will get some more on octopuses in the wild.

I finished this this morning and enjoyed it. It had just the right amount of science for me. I felt like I was learning about octopuses as the other did, and that made things feel quite immediate. I understand the frustration with not getting more conclusive information, but I got the feeling that octopuses are a bit of a mystery. They're obviously intelligent and emotional but how are we, as humans, to really be able to know what or how they think or what it feels like to be them. I think that's fascinating to think about.

I enjoyed reading about the author's diving adventures and had no idea that diving can potentially be so dangerous for the ears. I was so stressed out hoping her eardrum wasn't going to rupture.

I'm still digesting this read, so may have more thoughts later. :-)

I was also appreciative of her descriptions of diving! I thought it was great that she picked it up as a means to pursue her passion for meeting octopuses in the wild, but usually the trials of learning are skimmed because I had no idea about a lot of the things she wrote about either.

Michaela wrote: "I finished the book, and was a bit disappointed. It´s less about science as about her years when meeting octopodes, people at the aquarium and learning new things. There were interesting points, bu..."

I had very similar thoughts and rated it the same, 3 stars.

Although I was expecting more science, I did enjoy the story-telling she incorporated regarding her "aquarium family".

I thought there was a sufficient amount of information on octopuses -- I learned a few things I didn't know -- but after the first third or so, the narrative started to feel repetitive. Glad I read it, though, because this is a book from my shelves so it counts for the Mt. TBR challenge (and a few others) too. Rated it 3.5.

I finished this last night and not sure that I can really add anything to the thoughts previously disclosed. Like many, I was surprised to learn how tactile they are, and how friendly and inquisitive they appear to be in both captivity and in the encounters that they had while scuba diving. Still, I am not sure that I want to get too close to one (particularly being from Australia and from the state that is home to the deadly blue-ringed Octopus and the Irukandiji Jellyfish).

I was reading in the author's website that this book grew from an extremely popular article that she had written about her experience of interacting with an octopus at the Aquarium and her grief when it died. Perhaps that explains the feeling of repetition that many people have felt.

I did enjoy her description of the expedition that she was on in Tahiti as it gave a small insight into the investigative work that biologists and scientists undertake. It was interesting to discover the psychology work being tested.

Ultimately, I don't think that we truly understand the minds of human beings so it doesn't really surprise me that we can't understand the minds of other animals.